Definition of "firm" in English

noun

1. (UK, business) A business partnership; the name under which it trades.

2. (business, economics) A business enterprise, however organized.

3. (slang) A criminal gang, especially based around football hooliganism.

adjective

1. Steadfast, secure, solid (in position)

   • It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands.

2. Fixed (in opinion).

   • a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent
   • firm favourites

3. Insistent upon something, not accepting dissent.

   • He wanted to stay overnight, but I was firm with him and said he had to leave today.

4. Durable, rigid (material state).

   • firm flesh; firm muscles, firm wood; firm land (i.e. not soft and marshy)

5. Mentally resistant to hurt or stress.

6. Not frivolous or fallacious; trustworthy; solid; dependable.

adverb

1. (now rare) firmly, steadily

verb

1. (transitive) To make firm or strong; fix securely.

2. (transitive) To make compact or resistant to pressure; solidify.

3. (intransitive) To become firm; stabilise.

4. (intransitive) To improve after decline.

5. (intransitive, Australia) To shorten (of betting odds).

6. (transitive, colloquial) To grit one's teeth and bear; to push through something unpleasant.

   • I know you aren't feeling well, but just firm it.

7. (transitive, UK, slang) To select (a higher education institution) as one's preferred choice, so as to enrol automatically if one's grades match the conditional offer.